float

a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river Synonyms dock, jetty, landing, levee, pier, quai, quay, wharfRelated Words berth, mooring, slip; embarcadero [West]; dockyard, marina, quayage, shipyard, wharfage

1 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a canoe floating down the river particles of dust floating in the air Synonyms drift, glide, hang, hover, poise, ride, sail, swim, waft Related Words bob, dangle, suspend; buoy; balloon, raft Near Antonyms dive, lunge, plunge; dip, immerse, submerge, submerse Antonyms settle, sink

2 to move about from place to place aimlessly lost touch with a childhood friend who spent much of his adult life floating from place to place Synonyms bat, cruise, drift, wander, gad (about), gallivant (also galavant), kick around, knock (about), maunder, meander, mooch, ramble, range, roam, rove, traipseRelated Words amble, saunter, stroll; dawdle, mope; gypsy, hobo, tramp, vagabond; mill (about or around); straggle, stray